Humidifier for a ventilator

ABSTRACT

A sealing and retaining arrangement for a humidifier with separable top and bottom members and an attaching arrangement for rigidly connecting a ventilator or other respiratory device to the top of the humidifier in a predetermined, fixed position. The sealing and retaining arrangement is designed for use between separable top and bottom members of a humidifier. The top and bottom are made of relatively rigid material and have overlapping or telescoping portions with a flexible, resilient seal extending therebetween. The seal also serves to positively retain the top and bottom together while in use. The attaching arrangement is designed to rigidly connect the ventilator or other respiratory device to the top of the humidifier in a predetermined, fixed position. This is accomplished by rigidly coupling the air outlet of the ventilator directly to the air inlet of the humidifier without any intervening, flexible hose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of humidifiers for ventilators andother respiratory devices.

2. Discussion of the Background

Humidifiers are commonly used with ventilators and other respiratorydevices to add humidity to the air being supplied to a patient. Earlyhumidifying arrangements were simply bottles filled with water with airinlets and outlets. Later arrangements became more sophisticated butstill presented many of the same fundamental problems as the earlierbottle ones.

More specifically, prior humidifying units as typified by the earlybottle arrangements are somewhat clumsy to use and difficult to clean.Additionally, such units are commonly connected to the ventilator orother respiratory device by a flexible hose. The hose then presents onemore item that must be purchased and cleaned. It also takes up valuablespace on the night stand or other support structure where space isnormally at a premium. This is particularly true in current applicationswhere ventilators are being widely used in home environments to treatsleep apnea. In such environments, the dangling hose between theventilator and humidifier can easily be accidentally snagged or struckby the patient as he or she manipulates the various controls or movesthe unit. The same is true even for hospital environments. Theconnecting hose is also an additional part that must be disconnectedfrom both the ventilator and humidifier to be periodically cleaned and,like bottles, it is often difficult to properly clean without specialbrushes or techniques. Such hoses can also be cut or torn in use.

In contrast to the above, the humidifier of the present invention is ofthe type that has a completely separable top and bottom. It is then mucheasier and more convenient to reach and clean all parts of thehumidifier. Further, the separated top and bottom can even be simplyplaced in a conventional dishwasher if desired. This ease of cleaningencourages the patient to do so and greatly adds to the safe andsanitary use of the humidifier. Once cleaned, the top and bottom can beeasily and quickly assembled using the unique structure and sealingarrangement of the present invention. This sealing arrangement not onlygives the patient an audible and tactile signal it is properly engagedbut also provides a positive retaining structure to hold the top andbottom together under the elevated air pressure supplied by theventilator. An attaching arrangement is also provided wherein theventilator can be easily and quickly attached to the top of thehumidifier in a predetermined, fixed position without any intervening,flexible hose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention involves a sealing and retaining arrangement for ahumidifier with separable top and bottom members. It also involves anattaching arrangement for rigidly connecting a ventilator or otherrespiratory device to the top of the humidifier in a predetermined,fixed position.

The sealing and retaining arrangement is designed for use betweenseparable top and bottom members of a humidifier. The top and bottom aremade of relatively rigid material and have overlapping or telescopingportions. A flexible, resilient seal is provided to extend between thetelescoping portions to create the seal. It also serves to positivelyretain the top and bottom together. In the preferred embodiment, theseal has a lip extending about and outwardly of the bottom reservoirmember of the humidifier. The top cover member then has an inwardlyfacing surface with a step or ledge in it. In use, the top cover memberis manually placed over the bottom reservoir member and moveddownwardly. In doing so, the protruding lip of the seal first contactsand wipes along the surface section below the step. As the top continuesto be lowered, the resilient lip snaps outwardly over the step or ledgeto strike and sealingly engage the surface section above the step. Thissnapping action creates a signal that can be both audibly heard andtactually felt by the patient indicating that the top has been properlyengaged on the bottom. The top can then be lowered farther if denied. Inany case, the lip seal performs the additional function with the step orledge of positively retaining the top on the bottom while in use. Thatis, once the resilient lip has snapped outwardly over the step or ledge,any force of the elevated air pressure within the humidifier tending toseparate the top and bottom will cause the lip to firmly engage or abutthe step or ledge. This will thus serve to positively retain the top onthe bottom against any such forces.

The attaching arrangement of the present invention is designed torigidly connect the ventilator or other respiratory device to the top ofthe humidifier. This is accomplished by rigidly coupling the air outletof the ventilator directly to the air inlet of the humidifier withoutany intervening, flexible hose. The resulting combination is a compact,stable attachment of the ventilator and the humidifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stacked ventilator and humidifierunit of the present invention shown in use supplying humidified airunder pressure to a patient.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the ventilator and humidifierunit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the ventilator and humidifier.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG.3 of the top cover member and bottom reservoir member of the humidifier.

FIGS. 5 and 6 in conjunction with FIG. 4 sequentially illustrate how thetop cover member is manually placed over the bottom reservoir member ofthe humidifier.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7--7 of FIGS. 3and 8 illustrating the humidifier in its assembled position with the topcover member sealingly engaging and retained on the bottom reservoirmember.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view taken generally along line 9--9 of FIG. 7 illustratinghow the top and bottom members of the humidifier can be gripped tomanually separate them.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating how the top and bottommembers can be initially pried apart.

FIG. 11 is a view taken along line 11--11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the top covermember in a lowered position contacting the seal on the bottom reservoirmember.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the separated ventilator andhumidifier.

FIG. 14 is a view taken along line 14--14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a view of the ventilator as it is attached to and atop thehumidifier.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG. 15 showing theconnection between the air outlet of the ventilator and the air inlet ofthe humidifier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The sealing, retaining, and attaching arrangements of the presentinvention as best seen in FIGS. 1-3 have been primarily designed for usein a stackable combination of a ventilator 1 and a humidifier 2. Theventilator 1 (see FIG. 3) is a small, compact unit with a variable speedfan 3 or similar means for generating air flow at pressures aboveatmospheric. In use, atmospheric air enters through vents in the back 5of the ventilator 1 and exits under pressure through the outlet 7. Forclarity and simplicity, the term ventilator is used herein to includeany and all respiratory devices (including respirators) for generatingair flow for use by a patient.

Sealing Arrangement

The humidifier 2 as illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 3 includesseparable top and bottom members 4 and 6. Both members 4 and 6 are madeof relatively rigid or hard plastic or other material with the topmember 4 serving as a separable cover for the bottom member 6. Thebottom member 6 as best seen in FIGS. 3-6 serves as a reservoir forholding water 8 and includes a bottom wall 10 (see FIG. 4) andsurrounding side wall 12. The side wall 12 extends upwardly from andabout the bottom wall 10 to form therewith the reservoir for holding thewater 8. The side wall 12 as shown has an upper portion 14 spaced fromthe bottom wall 10 and extending about the central axis 16. As alsoillustrated in FIG. 4, the separable top member 4 has a top wall 18 andsurrounding side wall 20 extending downwardly from and about the topwall 18. The side wall 20 includes the lower portion 22 which is spacedfrom the top wall 18 and extends about the axis 16.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottom reservoir member 6 has aresilient, flexible seal 24 which is preferably annular as shown in FIG.3. Additionally, like the upper and lower portions 14 and 22 of the topand bottom members 4 and 6, the seal 24 also preferably extendssubstantially elliptically or non-circularly about the axis 16. The seal24 (see FIG. 4) includes a first or inner section 26 attached (e.g.,glued) to the upper portion 14 of the bottom reservoir member 6. Theremaining or,outer section 28 of the seal 24 extends outwardly of andabout the axis 16 and the upper portion 14 to form a protruding lip.

As been seen in FIGS. 4-6, the portions 14 and 22 of the top and bottommembers 4 and 6 are concentrically shaped and dimensioned to telescopeover each other. In this manner, the patient can manually move the topmember 4 along the axis 16 from the separated position of FIG. 4 to thefirst, telescoping or overlapping position of FIG. 6. In doing so asillustrated in FIG. 5, the lip section 28 of the seal 24 contacts andwipes along the lower surface 30 of the portion 22. Thereafter and asthe top cover member 4 is moved to the first, telescoping position ofFIG. 6, the outer, lip section 28 of the resilient seal 24 snaps fromcontact with the surface section 30 over the step or ledge 32 to strikethe upper surface section 34. This snapping action creates a signal tothe user that the top cover member 4 has been moved downwardly farenough to reach the first, telescoping position of FIG. 6. This snappingaction can be both audibly heard and tactually felt by the patient.

In this regard as best seen in FIG. 4, the inner surface of 30, 32, and34 of the cover member 4 includes the first and second sections 30 and34. These sections 30 and 34 are spaced from each other along the axis16. Additionally, these sections 30 and 34 are parallel to one anotherand to the axis 16 and are spaced different distances from the axis 16.The third section or connecting step or ledge 32 then extends outwardlyof the axis 16 and substantially perpendicularly between the surfacesections 30 and 34. As discussed above, the upper and lower portions 14and 22 of the top and bottom 4 and 6 are concentrically shaped anddimensioned so that the top 4 and bottom 6 can be telescoped over oneanother to the overlapping position of FIG. 6. In this position, theupper and lower portions 14 and 22 are concentrically spaced from eachother a first distance to form a gap or space. The flexed lip seal 28then fills this gap.

More specifically, the outer or lip section 28 of seal 24 extendsoutwardly in its relaxed state of FIG. 4 for a distance from portion 14greater than the gap. The outward extent of the relaxed lip 28 from theaxis 16 is also greater than the spacing of either of the surfacesections 30 and 34 from the axis 16. Consequently, the outer lip section28 of the seal 24 is flexed downwardly and wipes along the first surface30 (see FIG. 5) in the direction of axis 16 as the patient manuallymoves the top 4 downwardly over the bottom 6. Thereafter as the patientcontinues to move the top 4 downwardly to the position of FIG. 6, thelip 28 resiliently snaps outwardly over the step or ledge 32 to strikeand sealingly engage the outer surface section 34. In this first,telescoping position of FIG. 6, the substantially perpendicular surfaces40 and 42 of the lip 28 respectively abut and seal against thesubstantially perpendicular surfaces 34 and 32 of the top 4.

The humidifier 2 of the present invention has the very desirable featurethat the top cover member 4 and bottom reservoir member 6 can becompletely separated. It is then much easier and more convenient toreach and thoroughly clean all parts of the humidifier 2. Further, theseparated top 4 and bottom 6 can even be simply placed in a conventionaldishwasher if desired. This ease of cleaning encourages the patient todo so and greatly adds to the safe and sanitary operation of thehumidifier 2. Once cleaned and refilled with water, the humidifier 2with the separated top 4 and bottom 6 can be easily and quicklyassembled to the position of FIG. 6. Member 52 in FIGS. 7 and 8 is adepth gauge wherein water is added (e.g., 11 ounces) until it justcovers the top of member 52. This is intended to be enough water withreserve to last through one night's use. In this assembled position (seeFIGS. 7 and 8), air A under pressure enters the humidifier 2 through airinlet 44 where it is directed downwardly into the body of the humidifier2 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 8, the air A then flows around the divider46 and exits through the outlet 48 and onto the patient (see also FIGS.1-3). The clear plastic cup 50 in FIGS. 1-3 and 7 is a sight glassthrough which the patient can visually view and monitor the depth ofwater in the bottom reservoir member 6. Indentions 54 in the bottom wall10 of the member 6 are merely recesses to receive the rubber, supportfeet 54'.

Retaining Arrangement

Referring again to FIG. 6 and with the humidifier 2 under operating airpressure, the top and bottom members 4 and 6 are biased apart by thevertical force components of the pressurized air. That is, the force ofthe air under pressure passing through the humidifier 2 tends toseparate or move the top 4 and bottom 6 apart. To control this asillustrated in FIG. 6, the humidifier 2 is provided with a positiveretaining means to hold the top 4 on the bottom 6 against the separatingforces of the air pressure.

In the preferred embodiment, this retaining is accomplished by operationof the segment or surface 42 of the lip seal 28 abutting the step orledge 32 of the top 4. More specifically, as the pressure in thehumidifier 2 increases to the point it tends to separate the top 4 andbottom 6, the surface 42 of lip seal 28 engages or abuts the step orledge 32 of the top 4 to counter and effectively nullify the separatingforce of the air pressure. The top 4 and bottom 6 are thus safely andpositively retained on one another.

To overcome this retaining arrangement in order to separate the top 4and bottom 6 for cleaning or to add water, a prying arrangement isprovided. As best seen in FIGS. 9-11, the prying arrangement includes apush plate 60 on the bottom member 6 and opposing flanges 62 on the topmember 4. The flanges 62 are separated by a notch 64 wherein the pushplate 60 is aligned with the notch 64 and substantially straddled by theflanges 62 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In operation, the patient can grip theprying arrangement as shown with his or her thumbs on the push plate 60in the cut-out space provided by the notch 64 and fingers of each handrespectively on the flanges 62. By applying opposing forces, the top 4and bottom 6 can be pried or peeled apart. In doing so as best seen inFIG. 11, the patient can position his or her fingers on the outwardlyprotruding flanges 62 so the descending lip seal 28 will pass by thefingers and not interfere with the separating operation.

To facilitate the prying or separating of the top 4 and bottom 6, theretaining step or ledge 32 is designed to extend only partially aboutthe central axis 16 (see again FIG. 8). Consequently, the remainder 66(see the left side of FIG. 8) of the inner surface of the top 4 issmooth and has no step or ledge 32. The flanges 62 and notch 64 are thenpreferably oriented at the end of the top 4 outwardly of thisadditional, smooth surface 66 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). In this manner and tofacilitate the initial prying or separating maneuver of FIGS. 9 and 10,the patient does not have to work directly against the retaining forceof an abutting lip 28 and ledge 32. Rather, the top 4 and bottom 6 canbe initially separated or peeled apart in the manner of FIGS. 9-11 andthe peeling process continued to fully separate the top 4 and bottom 6using leverage gained by the initial separation of FIGS. 9-11. For theconvenience of the user, the bottom 6 as shown is symmetrical and has anadditional push plate 60' (see FIG. 8) on its other end so the top 4 canbe oriented in either direction on the bottom 6.

FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 6 and illustrates an alternate and preferredoperation of the humidifier 2. In it, the top 4 is moved downwardlybeyond the first, telescoping position of FIG. 6 to a second,telescoping position in which the top wall 18 of top 4 actually abutsthe inner section 26 of the seal 24. To some extent, this is amanufacturing expedient as it is difficult to mold or manufacture thelip 28 and ledge 32 to precisely abut one another around the axis 16 inthe fashion of FIG. 6. Consequently, the preferred manner of manufactureis to dimension the top 4, bottom 6, and seal 24 so that the top 4 canbe moved past the first, telescoping position of FIG. 6 to the second,telescoping position of FIG. 12. In the second, telescoping position ofFIG. 12, the first or outer surface 40 of lip seal 28 as in FIG. 6 isbiased or flexed outwardly and sealingly engages the surface section 34but with the lip 28 spaced from the retaining ledge 32. In operation asair pressure is initially applied to the interior of the humidifier 2,the force of the flexed lip 28 against the surface 34 is preferablyenough to hold the top 4 on the bottom 6 in the position of FIG. 12.Thereafter, as the air pressure may increase (e.g., from 2 centimetersof water to 20, 30, or more), it may become sufficient to move the top 4and bottom 6 apart from the position of FIG. 12 to that of FIG. 6.However, at the position of FIG. 6, the surface 42 of lip seal 28 willabut the retaining ledge 32 and serve to positively retain the top 4 onthe bottom 6 in a safe and reliable manner.

Attaching Arrangement

In the preferred embodiment, the ventilator 1 is removably attached atopthe underlying humidifier 2 in a predetermined, fixed position. This isaccomplished as illustrated in FIGS. 13-16 by rigidly coupling the airoutlet 7 of the ventilator 1 directly to the air inlet 44 of thehumidifier 2. This is done without any intervening, flexible hose as iscommon in the industry. No such additional, intervening hose need thenbe purchased or cleaned and cannot be struck or otherwise snagged by thepatient. Rather, the resulting combination is a compact, stableattachment of the ventilator 1 to the humidifier 2.

In this regard, the ventilator 1 and humidifier 2 are rigidly coupledtogether in the preferred embodiment by the sliding male-femaleconnection 7 on the ventilator 1 and seal member 44' on the humidifier2. Seal member 44' is an extension of and forms part of the air inletmeans 44 for the humidifier 2. In operation, as shown in FIGS. 14-16,the ventilator 1 and humidifier 2 are slid together until the air outletmeans 7 of the ventilator 1 is firmly received in the seal member 44' ofthe air inlet means 44 of the humidifier 2. In this manner, therespective male-female members 7 and 44' not only serve to define airflow passages 9 and 68 (see FIG. 16) but also serve as removableattaching means to maintain the ventilator 1 in a predetermined, fixedposition on the humidifier 2. Thus, the act of placing the flow passages9 and 68 in fluid communications with each other sealing engages the airoutlet 7 and air inlet 44 and at the same time, affixes the ventilator 1in a stacked position atop the humidifier 2.

The bottom of the ventilator 1 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 preferablyhas one or more strips 11 of non-skid material (e.g., rubber) tofrictionally engage the top surface 70 of the humidifier 2. These strips11 serve to inhibit relative sliding between the horizontal surfaces 13and 70 of the ventilator 1 and humidifier 2. The strips 11 are very thinand their thickness is greatly exaggerated in the drawings for clarityas the substantially horizontal, parallel surfaces 13 and 70 nearly abutone another in the position of FIG. 15. If desired, the surfaces 13 and70 can rest directly on one another. Additionally, as shown, the bottom13 of the ventilator 1 and surface section 70 of the humidifier 2preferably are substantially similar in shape and size so as to form acompact, stable unit.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed in detail, it is to be understood that various modificationsand changes could be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, the term ventilator as explained above is usedherein to include any and all respiratory devices (includingrespirators) for generating air flow for use by a patient. Further, thesealing arrangement as well as the retaining and attaching arrangementswere described in the preferred embodiments as being on specificmembers. However, they could be on the other or opposing member. Otherequivalents and mirror roles would also be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

We claim:
 1. A sealing arrangement primarily intended for use in ahumidifier for a ventilator, said humidifier having separable,relatively rigid, top and bottom members,said relatively rigid, bottommember being a reservoir for holding water and having a bottom wall anda side wall, said side wall extending upwardly from and about saidbottom wall to form therewith said reservoir for holding water, saidside wall having an upper portion spaced from the bottom wall andextending about an axis, said separable, relatively rigid, top member ofsaid humidifier being a cover for said bottom reservoir member andhaving a top wall and a side wall, said side wall extending downwardlyfrom and about said top wall, said side wall of said top cover memberhaving a lower portion spaced from the top wall and extending about saidaxis, one of said bottom reservoir member and said top cover memberfurther including a resilient, flexible seal, said seal having a firstsection attached to one of the upper portion of the side wall of thebottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the side wall of thetop cover member and extending about said axis, said seal further havinga second section extending from the one of the upper portion of thebottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the top cover member toform a protruding lip, said upper portion of the side wall of the bottomreservoir member and said lower portion of the side wall of the topcover member being substantially concentrically shaped and dimensionedwherein said top cover member can be manually moved by a patient alongsaid axis to a first, telescoping position relative to the bottomreservoir member with the respective upper and lower portions of the topcover member and bottom reservoir member overlapping and concentricallyspaced a first distance from each other, said second section of saidresilient, flexible seal forming said protruding lip having a relaxedstate extending from the one of said upper and lower portions for adistance greater than said first distance said upper and lower portionsare concentrically spaced from each other wherein said lip contacts andwipes along the other of said upper and lower portions in the directionof said axis as said top cover member is moved by the patient to saidfirst, telescoping position relative to said bottom reservoir member,said lip on the one of said upper and lower portions sealingly engagingthe other of said upper and lower portions in said first, telescopingposition, and said sealing arrangement further including means forcreating a signal to the patient indicating the top cover member hasbeen moved to said first, telescoping and sealing position, said signalcreating means including said lip and means for causing said lip toresiliently snap against the other of said upper and lower portions tocreate said signal when the top cover member has been moved to saidfirst, telescoping and sealing position.
 2. The sealing arrangement ofclaim 1 wherein said signaling means creates an audible signal that canbe heard by the patient.
 3. The sealing arrangement of claim 1 whereinsaid signaling means creates a tactile signal that can be felt by thepatient.
 4. The sealing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said upper andlower portions respectively extend substantially elliptically about saidaxis.
 5. The sealing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said upper and lowerportions respectively extend non-circularly about said axis.
 6. Thesealing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said seal is annularly shapedabout said axis.
 7. The sealing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said sealextends elliptically about said axis.
 8. The sealing arrangement ofclaim 1 wherein said seal extends non-circularly about said axis.
 9. Thesealing arrangement of claim 1 wherein said humidifier includes an airinlet means in the top cover member and an air outlet and saidventilator includes means for supplying air under pressure aboveatmospheric to the air inlet means of said humidifier, said air inletmeans of said humidifier including means for removably attaching saidventilator thereto in a predetermined, fixed position.
 10. The sealingarrangement of claim 1 further including means for positively retainingsaid top cover member on said bottom reservoir member.
 11. A sealingarrangement primarily intended for use in a humidifier for a ventilator,said humidifier having separable, relatively rigid, top and bottommembers,said relatively rigid, bottom member being a reservoir forholding water and having a bottom wall and a side wall, said side wallextending upwardly from and about said bottom wall to form therewithsaid reservoir for holding water, said side wall having an upper portionspaced from the bottom wall and extending about an axis, said separable,relatively rigid, top member of said humidifier being a cover for saidbottom reservoir member and having a top wall and a side wall, said sidewall extending downwardly from and about said top wall, said side wallof said top cover member having a lower portion spaced from the top walland extending about said axis, one of said bottom reservoir member andsaid top cover member further including a resilient, flexible seal, saidseal having a first section attached to one of the upper portion of theside wall of the bottom reservoir member and the lower portion of theside wall of the top cover member and extending about said axis, saidseal further having a second section extending from the one of the upperportion of the bottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the topcover member to form a protruding lip, said upper portion of the sidewall of the bottom reservoir member and said lower portion of the sidewall of the top cover member being substantially concentrically shapedand dimensioned wherein said top cover member can be manually moved by apatient along said axis to a first, telescoping position relative to thebottom reservoir member with the respective upper and lower portions ofthe top cover member and bottom reservoir member overlapping andconcentrically spaced a first distance from each other, said secondsection of said resilient, flexible seal forming said protruding liphaving a relaxed state extending from the one of said upper and lowerportions for a distance greater than said first distance said upper andlower portions are concentrically spaced from each other wherein saidlip contacts and wipes along the other of said upper and lower portionsin the direction of said axis as said top cover member is moved by thepatient to said first, telescoping position relative to said bottomreservoir member, said lip on the one of said upper and lower portionssealingly engaging the other of said upper and lower portions in saidfirst, telescoping position, and said sealing arrangement furtherincluding means for creating a signal to the patient indicating the topcover member has been moved to said first, telescoping and sealingposition wherein the other of said upper and lower portions has asurface with first and second sections spaced from each other along saidaxis, said first and second sections additionally being spaced differentdistances from said axis and said surface further including a thirdsection extending outwardly of said axis between said first and secondsections to form a step, said lip of said seal contacting and wipingalong said first section in the direction of said axis and thereaftersealingly engaging said second section when said top cover member is insaid first, telescoping and sealing position.
 12. The sealingarrangement of claim 11 wherein said signaling means includes said lipwherein said lip resiliently snaps from contact with said first sectionover said step to strike the second section of said surface as said topcover member is moved by said patient along said axis to said firstsealing position.
 13. The sealing arrangement of claim 12 wherein saidtop cover member telescopes over said bottom reservoir member with thelower portion of said top cover member positioned concentricallyoutwardly of the upper portion of the bottom reservoir member, the innersection of the seal is attached to the upper portion of the bottomreservoir member and the lip of said seal extends outwardly of the upperportion of said bottom reservoir member, the surface with the threesections is on the lower portion of said top cover member and the firstand second sections thereof face inwardly toward said axis with thesecond section being spaced farther from said axis than said firstsection wherein said lip resiliently snaps outwardly from contact withsaid first section over said step to strike the second section of saidsurface of said top cover member as said top cover member is moved bythe patient along said axis to said first sealing position.
 14. Asealing arrangement primarily intended for use in a humidifier for aventilator, said humidifier having separable, relatively rigid top andbottom members,said relatively rigid, bottom member being a reservoirfor holding water and having a bottom wall and a side wall, said sidewall extending upwardly from and about said bottom wall to formtherewith said reservoir for holding water, said side wall having anupper portion spaced from the bottom wall and extending about an axis,said separable, relatively rigid, top member of said humidifier being acover for said bottom reservoir member and having a top wall and a sidewall, said side wall extending downwardly from and about said top wall,said side wall of said top cover member having a lower portion spacedfrom the top wall and extending about said axis, one of said bottomreservoir member and said top cover member further including aresilient, flexible seal, said seal having a first section attached toone of the upper portion of the side wall of the bottom reservoir memberand the lower portion of the side wall of the top cover member andextending about said axis, said seal further having a second sectionextending from the one of the upper portion of the bottom reservoirmember and the lower portion of the top cover member to form aprotruding lip, said upper portion of the side wall of the bottomreservoir member and said lower portion of the side wall of the topcover member being substantially concentrically shaped and dimensionedwherein said top cover member can be manually moved by a patient alongsaid axis to a first, telescoping position relative to the bottomreservoir member with the respective upper and lower portions of the topcover member and bottom reservoir member overlapping and concentricallyspaced a first distance from each other, said second section of saidresilient, flexible seal forming said protruding lip having a relaxedstate extending from the one of said upper and lower portions for adistance greater than said first distance said upper and lower portionsare concentrically spaced from each other wherein said lip contacts andwipes along the other of said upper and lower portions in the directionof said axis as said top cover member is moved by the patient to saidfirst, telescoping position relative to said bottom reservoir member,said lip on the one of said upper and lower portions sealingly engagingthe other of said upper and lower portions in said first, telescopingposition, and said sealing arrangement further including means forcreating a signal to the patient indicating the top cover member hasbeen moved to said first, telescoping and sealing position and means forpositively retaining said top cover member on said bottom reservoirmember wherein the other of said upper and lower portions has a surfacewith first and second sections spaced from each other along said axis,said first and second sections additionally being spaced differentdistances from said axis and said surface further including a thirdsection extending outwardly of said axis between said first and secondsections to form a ledge, said retaining means including said ledgewherein said lip abuts said ledge to positively retain said top covermember on said bottom reservoir member.
 15. The sealing arrangement ofclaim 14 wherein said first and second surface sections aresubstantially parallel to each other and to said axis and said thirdsurface is substantially perpendicular to said first and second surfacesections and to said axis.
 16. A sealing arrangement primarily intendedfor use in a humidifier for a ventilator, said humidifier havingseparable, relatively rigid, top and bottom members,said relativelyrigid, bottom member being a reservoir for holding water and having abottom wall and a side wall, said side wall extending upwardly from andabout said bottom wall to form therewith said reservoir for holdingwater, said side wall having an upper portion spaced from the bottomwall and extending about an axis, said separable, relatively rigid, topmember of said humidifier being a cover for said bottom reservoir memberand having a top wall and a side wall, said side wall extendingdownwardly from and about said top wall, said side wall of said topcover member having a lower portion spaced from the top wall andextending about said axis, one of said bottom reservoir member and saidtop cover member further including a resilient, flexible seal, said sealhaving a first section attached to one of the upper portion of the sidewall of the bottom reservoir member add the lower portion of the sidewall of the top cover member and extending about said axis, said sealfurther having a second section extending from the one of the upperportion of the bottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the topcover member to form a protruding lip, said upper portion of the sidewall of the bottom reservoir member and said lower portion of the sidewall of the top cover member being substantially concentrically shapedand dimensioned wherein said top cover member can be manually moved by apatient along said axis to a first, telescoping position relative to thebottom reservoir member with the respective upper and lower portions ofthe top cover member and bottom reservoir member overlapping andconcentrically spaced a first distance from each other, said secondsection of said resilient, flexible seal forming said protruding liphaving a relaxed state extending from the one of said upper and lowerportions for a distance greater than said first distance said upper andlower portions are concentrically spaced from each other wherein saidlip contacts and wipes along the other of said upper and lower portionsin the direction of said axis as said top cover member is moved by thepatient to said first, telescoping position relative to said bottomreservoir member, said lip on the one of said upper and lower portionssealingly engaging the other of said upper and lower portions in saidfirst, telescoping position, and said sealing arrangement furtherincluding means for creating a signal to the patient indicating the topcover member has been moved to said first, telescoping and sealingposition wherein said humidifier has an air inlet and an air outlet andsaid ventilator includes means for supplying air under pressure aboveatmospheric to the air inlet of said humidifier, said air under pressurein said humidifier creating a force tending to move said top covermember and said bottom reservoir member apart and said sealingarrangement further including means for positively retaining said topcover member on said bottom reservoir member against the force of theair under pressure tending to move the top cover member and bottomreservoir member apart.
 17. A retaining arrangement primarily intendedfor use in a humidifier for a ventilator, said humidifier havingseparable, relatively rigid, top and bottom members,said relativelyrigid, bottom member being a reservoir for holding water and having abottom wall and a side wall, said side wall extending upwardly from andabout said bottom wall to form therewith said reservoir for holdingwater, said side wall having an upper portion spaced from the bottomwall and extending about an axis, said separable, relatively rigid, topmember of said humidifier being a cover for said bottom reservoir memberand having a top wall and a side wall, said side wall extendingdownwardly from and about said top wall, said side wall of said topcover member having a lower portion spaced from the top wall andextending about said axis, one of said bottom reservoir member and saidtop cover member further including a resilient, flexible seal, said sealhaving a first section attached to one of the upper portion of the sidewall of the bottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the sidewall of the top cover member and extending about said axis, said sealfurther having a second section extending from the one of the upperportion of the bottom reservoir member and the lower portion of the topcover member to form a protruding lip, said upper portion of the sidewall of the bottom reservoir member and said lower portion of the sidewall of the top cover member being substantially concentrically shapedand dimensioned wherein said top cover member can be manually moved by apatient along said axis to a first, telescoping position relative to thebottom reservoir member with the respective upper and lower portions ofthe top cover member and bottom reservoir member overlapping andconcentrically spaced a first distance from each other, said secondsection of said resilient, flexible seal forming said protruding liphaving a relaxed state extending from the one of said upper and lowerportions for a distance greater than said first distance said upper andlower portions are concentrically spaced from each other wherein saidlip contacts and wipes along the other of said upper and lower portionsin the direction of said axis as said top cover member is moved by thepatient to said first, telescoping position relative to said bottomreservoir member, said lip on the one of said upper and lower portionssealingly engaging the other of said upper and lower portions in saidfirst, telescoping position, and means for positively retaining said topcover member on said bottom reservoir member wherein the other of saidupper and lower portions has a surface with first and second sectionsspaced from each other along said axis, said first and second sectionsadditionally being spaced different distances from said axis and saidsurface further including a third section extending outwardly of saidaxis between said first and second sections to form a ledge, saidretaining means including said ledge wherein said lip abuts said ledgeto positively retain said top cover member on said bottom reservoirmember.
 18. The retaining arrangement of claim 17 wherein said top covermember telescopes over said bottom reservoir member with the lowerportion of said top cover member positioned concentrically outwardly ofthe upper portion of the bottom reservoir member, the inner section ofthe seal is attached to the upper portion of the bottom reservoir memberand the lip of said seal extends outwardly of the upper portion of saidbottom reservoir member, the surface with the three sections is on thelower portion of said top cover member and the first and second sectionsthereof face inwardly toward said axis with the second section beingspaced farther from said axis than said first section wherein said lipresiliently snaps outwardly from contact with said first section oversaid ledge to strike the second section of said surface of said topcover member as said top cover member is moved by the patient along saidaxis to said first sealing position.
 19. The retaining arrangement ofclaim 17 wherein said upper and lower portions respectively extendsubstantially elliptically about said axis.
 20. The retainingarrangement of claim 17 wherein said upper and lower portionsrespectively extend non-circularly about said axis.
 21. The retainingarrangement of claim 17 wherein said seal is annularly shaped about saidaxis.
 22. The retaining arrangement of claim 17 wherein said sealextends elliptically about said axis.
 23. The retaining arrangement ofclaim 17 wherein said seal extends non-circularly about said axis. 24.The retaining arrangement of claim 17 wherein said humidifier includesan air inlet means in the top cover member and an air outlet and saidventilator includes means for supplying air under pressure aboveatmospheric to the air inlet means of said humidifier, said air inletmeans of said humidifier including means for removably attaching saidventilator thereto in a predetermined, fixed position.
 25. The retainingarrangement of claim 17 further including means for creating a signal tothe patient indicating the top cover member has been moved to saidfirst, telescoping position.
 26. The retaining arrangement of claim 25wherein said signaling means creates an audible signal that can be heardby the patient.
 27. The retaining arrangement of claim 25 wherein saidsignaling means creates a tactile signal that can be felt by thepatient.
 28. The retaining arrangement of claim 17 wherein the lip ofsaid seal has first and second surfaces, said first surface contactingand sealing against said second section of the surface of the other ofsaid upper and lower portions in said first, telescoping position andsaid second surface of said lip abutting said ledge in said first,telescoping position.
 29. The retaining arrangement of claim 28 whereinsaid top cover member can be further moved by the patient along saidaxis toward said bottom reservoir member from said first, telescopingposition to a second, telescoping position with said first surface ofsaid lip sealingly engaging said second section of the surface of theother of said upper and lower portions and said second surface of saidlip spaced from said ledge.
 30. The retaining arrangement of claim 29wherein said humidifier has an air inlet and an air outlet and saidventilator includes means for supplying air under pressure aboveatmospheric to the air inlet of said humidifier, said air under pressurecreating a force tending to move said top cover member and said bottomcover member apart from said second, telescoping position toward saidfirst, telescoping position.
 31. The retaining arrangement of claim 29wherein one of the top wall of said top cover member and the bottom wallof said bottom reservoir member abuts said seal in said second,telescoping position.
 32. The retaining arrangement of claim 31 whereinthe one of said top and bottom walls abuts the first section of saidseal in said second, telescoping position.
 33. The retaining arrangementof claim 17 wherein said first and second surface sections aresubstantially parallel to each other and to said axis and said thirdsurface section is substantially perpendicular to said first and secondsurface sections and to said axis.
 34. The retaining arrangement ofclaim 33 wherein said ledge extends only partially about said axis. 35.The retaining arrangement of claim 33 wherein said surface of the otherof said upper and lower portions with said first, second, and thirdsections extends only partially about said axis and said other of saidupper and lower portions has an additional surface extendingsubstantially the remainder about said axis, said additional surfacebeing substantially smooth.
 36. The retaining arrangement of claim 35wherein the lip of said seal extends about said axis with a segmentthereof abutting said ledge in said first, telescoping position andanother segment of said lip abutting and sealing against the smooth,additional surface in said first, telescoping position.
 37. Theretaining arrangement of claim 35 further including a prying arrangementto assist the patient in manually separating the top cover member andthe bottom reservoir member from said first, telescoping position, saidprying arrangement including a push plate on the bottom reservoir memberand flange means on the top cover member, said flange means beingpositioned about said axis outwardly of said smooth, additional surfacewhen said top cover member and said bottom reservoir member are in saidfirst, telescoping position.
 38. The retaining arrangement of claim 37wherein said flange means extends outwardly of the lower portion of saidtop cover member.
 39. The retaining arrangement of claim 37 wherein saidflange means has first and second flanges separated by a notch and saidpush plate is aligned with said notch and substantially staddled by saidfirst and second flanges when said top cover member and said bottomreservoir member are in said first, telescoping position wherein thepatient can grip the prying arrangement with the patient's thumbs onsaid push plate and the patient's fingers on each hand respectively onsaid first and second flanges.